Things To Do near East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve
1638 Thunderstorm, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Inside Widecombe St Pancras Church, at the base of the tower, are four wallboards telling the story of the 1638 Thunderstorm. The following transcription was taken from photos. 'It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lam.III.2.2. The merciful a...
The Green, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The Green is the focal point of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Surrounded by shops, cafes, pub, church and its associated buildings, the village green is a great place to relax after a wander. A local information board provides a historical perspective. 'The Village Green was once known as 'butte pa...
Blackingstone Rock, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Visit for the remarkable views. Located near Moretonhampstead in the north east section of Dartmoor, Blackingstone Rock offers quite exceptional views of the National Park's high moor. It's the sheer size and sweep of the views that mark them out. From Haytor Rocks to Hound Tor (East Dartmoo...
Sextons Cottage and Church House (National Trust), Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
A sexton maintained church buildings and the graveyard. The sexton's cottage was his home. The 'church house was the medieval equivalent of the church hall. Its chief purpose was to house the festivals and church ales which raised funds for many an English parish church until the rise of Puritanism'...
Widecombe Fair, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Whilst not the biggest, Widecombe hosts arguably the most famous of Dartmoor's many fairs and shows. It takes place on the second Tuesday of September so in 2016 Widecombe Fair is on Tuesday 13th September. The fair is synonymous with the Devon folk song Widecombe Fair which is celebrated in sign...
The Old Inn, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Dartmoor's most famous village Widecombe-in-the-Moor is Dartmoor's most famous village. Easily accessible and located below some of the most beautiful moorland in the National Park, the area is packed with things to do and places to visit. Build your day around a pub lunch or cream tea in The Old...
Shilstone Rocks Horse Riding, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Nestled down a tiny lane a mile or so from the moorland village of Widecombe in the Moor, next to a stud that breeds Dartmoor Ponies. The horses range from sturdy Highland ponies to lighter breeds and the rides take you up onto Hamel Down, Bonehill Rocks and Buckland Beacon. The guides are responsib...
Hameldown Beacon, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a beacon as 'a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration’. There is a chain of beacons on Dartmoor running from the edge of the north moor down to the edge of the south moor. Hameldown Beacon is, roughly spe...
Hamel Down, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Drive along the A30 that skirts the northern boundary of Dartmoor National Park and you'll see the unmistakable dome of Cosdon Hill topped by Cosdon Beacon. Further south, towards the heart of the National Park is the equally vast Hamel Down topped by a tor, barrows and its own beacon. The views fro...
King's Barrow, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The barrow on top of King Tor is one of a number of these highly visible burial chambers on Hookney Down and Hamel Down. You can see them from miles around which was, clearly, the intention. See our King Tor listing for directions. Note that the barrow is close to English Heritage's Grimspound...
King Tor, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Dartmoor's high moorland rises from rolling countryside. The edge of the moor is lined with tors. For example, among others, Belstone Tors, Sourton Tors, White Tor, Pew Tor, Trowlesworthy Tors, Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor all overlook gentler landscapes. King Tor is another. Located to the ea...
Grey Wethers and Blue Jug, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
'The stream on the eastern side of the hill forms the boundary between the common lands of Manaton and Widecombe, and this is drawn from its head to Hameldon Cross, the space between the two being marked by a couple of bondstones, the lower one being called Blue Jug, and the other the Grey Wethe...
Two Barrows, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
There's a display cabinet in Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre which contains a replica of the Hameldon Dagger or Hamel Down Dagger. The display reads: 'Hameldon dagger. In 1872 the original dagger was found with a burial of burnt human bones in a cairn or barrow at Hameldon. It cons...
Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
One of the most impressive buildings in Dartmoor National Park, Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses are owned by the National Trust. If you're looking for historical information, visit the Moretonhampstead History Society website to which we provide an external link. 'Recorded as 'new' i...
The Dancing Tree Cross, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
If you're on your way to see Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses, look out for The Dancing Tree Cross. This was once the site of a market cross similar to the one in South Zeal. All you see today in Moretonhampstead is the head of the cross. This is because a tree grew next to the c...